what point to repair and muster their several forces: the
culprit and generally his brothers and near relatives seek safety in a
precipitate flight.

If a native has been slain his near male relations give way to the most
violent paroxysms of rage, and are forcibly held by their friends to
prevent them doing some injury to the bystanders; they then go and
confront the body of those who are the relatives of the murderer, and a
stormy altercation takes place; this generally however is terminated in
an amicable way, by the parties uniting to go in search of the culprit.
It is obviously the interest of every one that he should be caught and
punished; for until this takes place the whole of his connexions are in
danger.

The holiest duty a native is called on to perform is that of avenging the
death of his nearest relation, for it is his peculiar duty to do so:
until he has fulfilled this task he is constantly taunted by the old
women; his wives, if he be married, would soon quit him; if he is
unmarried not a single young woman would speak to him; his mother would
constantly cry and lament she should ever have given birth to so
degenerate a son; his father would treat him with contempt, and
reproaches would constantly be sounded in his ear.

PURSUIT OF A CRIMINAL.

Directly therefore the funeral ceremonies have been performed the
avenging parties start in pursuit of the murderer, and follow his
footsteps with rapidity and energy fitting so important an occasion;
unweariedly and relentlessly they press like bloodhounds upon the track,
and perform journeys of a great length with a speed which would scarcely
be credited; forgetting in this instance their usual caution, they
trespass on other natives' ground, and all other passions and feelings
appear to be absorbed in a burning thirst for vengeance. They sleep at
night upon the track which they had been prevented by the darkness from
following further, and with the first pale light of morning pursue it
from the same point.

IMPLICATION OF A MURDERER'S FAMILY IN HIS CRIME.

When such energy is displayed success must of course often follow, and
the overtaken criminal then falls, pierced by many spears; but should he
elude his pursuers they wreak their vengeance on any native they meet.
The murderer has naturally fled to the land of his friends to claim their
hospitality; sometimes this is afforded him, and sometimes he is
treacherously given up to his foes; but should the